All Poems 2023
Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. POETRY - ALL Awardees
2023 Theme
POETRY AGES 6-12
Speak Out
Reagan Schroeder – 1st placE
Grade 6 – The Riviera Ridge School
It is time to fly
I made wings for the world so we can fly
Rise together as one, stronger than before
We will climb the hill of injustice and reach victory peak
We will cry for justice and peacemaking taking charge
Not leaving one behind, what the world deserves, we deserve
It is time to fly
It is time to soar
Speaking our minds about the world will put us at an advantage
Our nation, once divided cannot be mended like the way it was before
There will always be a scar, a scratch that was too deep to heal completely
we can close the gap
We all will be ready to make a mark on our concrete perspectives
Through time we can together
It is time to soar
It is time to change
If our minds remain unchanged
Our nation will crumble as we will realize the structure wasn’t secure
The atmosphere is full of hatred as is and if we add more we will fall down again and it will be harder to come to our feet once, regain balance
Our nation was supposed to be united like we were named will you notice before this fire burns the embers to ashes, we won’t fall again
It is time to change
It is time to be passionate
We cannot live another day full of this hate so strong some are forced to the streets begging for food, water, shelter, the basics of survival that everyone deserves
We need to realize poverty is surrounding some from every angle and they can’t break free
Like you are trapped in an empty room, despair, cut off from all your relations and happiness
You can’t help yourself
It is time to be passionate
It is time to realize how it could’ve been and how it is to this day
This world is a burning ball of injustice, one fire extinguisher won’t do enough to douse a flame
We will rise together, help each other, nobody needs to blow and worsen the flames
Life is a marathon full of choices, someone falls you stop to help, won’t leave us behind, won’t leave you behind
One person can be the change, change can be a boomerang, people from Idaho to New Hampshire need to hear your words
You will speak, I will listen, We will change together
It is time to realize how it could’ve been and how it is to this day
We will change in time
Maybe a year from yesterday or a day after tomorrow, we will change
It’s a ripple in the pond, you tossed a rock, change laps the bank of the world
Peace is something we should be, not we pray for, cry for, and fight for
We all deserve to live our life to a full extent
If everybody but you changes the way they live to help others live and you don’t
We haven’t made and impression, you don’t press once for a mark, a scar is made with repeated pain
Just for a day we will soar, not a care in our perfect world
We will change in time
We will change the world
When we do, nobody will be the wiser, peace will ripple through our oceans,
crashing waves of harmony, we will revive those lying on the streets
There never will be a time when those wings can’t help us fly, we are waiting for you, I cannot wait decades
Change will come when we call it forth, look at your enemies one last time and run to them as friends for life
Today is the day
We will change the world
We can, we will
He was…
My Brother
Lochlan Whalen – Honorable Mention #3
Los Olivos Elementary
How do I make the world a better place?
I help my brother rest with a smile on his face
Helping my brother every day
Enjoying his smiles while we play
Martin Luther King was a great man to me
He was very confident which is key
I will try to make the world the place he wanted it to be
A place for my brother, where he can be free
Speak Out
Alexandra Le Renard – 2nd Place Poem
The Riviera Ridge School
He was peace as he yelled words that would be cemented in history
He was peace as he refused to use buses, sacrificing the soles of his shoes for equality
He was peace as his home was bombed and rose up into flames
He was peace as his family faced violence, he didn’t raise his fist back
He was peace as he walked through a world that was unfair
I will be peace
Through violence and discrimination
I will be peace
I hear the screams of Ukraine on the news
I will speak peace
I will help people get peace
I will find peace and spread it like stardust
I will be peace
A Divided Poem
Declan Yeung – 3rd Place Poem
The Riviera Ridge School
I want the word me to change to we
I dream that one day, that even in hard times, we stand not for one but for all
I dream that we don’t think apart but together
We’re fighting a war, not against an enemy, but our own nation – maybe ourselves
We need to stand together like flower petals on a flower
I know we can’t be perfect, but we can’t fall apart
We are one nation but we have dents from fighting…north, south, red, blue
It’s said that we are one, but are we?
If we’re apart, what good is it to be a nation?
I want the world to change us
I hope that one day we will not fight
Will we ever be a nation?
I hope to change the world
Making People Happy
Kai Wanner –Notable Mention #1
Los Olivos Elementary
How do I make the world a better place?
I complement everyone so there is a smile on each face
I complement people every day
I always wonder what they are going to say
Martin Luther King is a hero to me
I brighten people’s life by being silly
I will keep the world a happy place
By making it a happy space
Making People Happy
Kai Wanner –Notable Mention #1
Los Olivos Elementary
How do I make the world a better place?
I complement everyone so there is a smile on each face
I complement people every day
I always wonder what they are going to say
Martin Luther King is a hero to me
I brighten people’s life by being silly
I will keep the world a happy place
By making it a happy space
Change the World
Julie Parker – Poem Notable Mention #2
Oak Valley Elementary
Make a difference
Anyone can do anything
Respect others
Think about ways to help others
If you believe it then you can do it
Never give up
Let no one get to you
Use your imagination
Tell the truth
Help others
Everyone matters
Responsibility for your actions
Kindness can change the world
If you treat others the way you want to be treated then you might get the same
Now’s the time to make a change
Go be you
Jealously is not good
Realize you can and should follow your dreams
Poetry AGES 13-18
Broken Treasures
Lauren Lee – 1st Place Poem
Dos Pueblos Senior High
People are like oceans.
Layers and layers and layers
of feelings.
Fears.
Strengths.
Secrets.
Weaknesses.
Dreams.
Most people only see the surface.
The serene Sunlight Zone that says everything’s fine.
But others
are willing to swim the extra mile.
They break past the surface,
swimming and swimming and swimming.
It’s difficult.
It’s worth it.
Because treasure isn’t found at the surface.
It’s
down
down
down
at the very bottom.
(hidden)
When you find it,
it’s precious.
Cause you can only find it if they let you.
And they only let you find it if you’re willing to
dive deep.
Take the risks.
Face the danger.
Swim past the zones of embarrassment.
Trauma.
Shame.
So.
When they finally open their chest of broken treasures,
don’t take any.
Recognize their struggles,
their pain,
their sorrow.
Appreciate what they’ve gone through.
Don’t pity their shattered remains.
Instead,
help them put themselves back together
into something stronger.
Because isn’t that what friends are for?
How to Fix 77 Seconds
Anna Morrison – 2nd Place Poem
Carpinteria High School
The earth has been for 4 billion years
But 24 hours
Humans have been here for 200,000 years
But
Seventy
Seven
Seconds
The water’s getting warmer
The ice is all melting
We made it like this
And we need to start helping
No, fixing is better
This was our mess first, after all
Saving species, boycotting cars
It’s up to us; it’s our call
See, when I picked up my trash
And saved all my water
It was surprisingly easy
It wasn’t a bother
So take only pictures
And leave only footprints
Don’t you love your environment;
Don’t you take care of it?
Stay true to your earth
It’s been here much longer than you
Yet we are ruining it
A few seconds too soon
Listening Goes a Long Way
Olgha Mbraka – 3rd Place Poem
Carpinteria High School
What does it mean to impact your community?
It means that you help and are there for others
Not just once, but whenever you get the opportunity.
Being there for someone when they’re down,
Listening to them and giving advice,
Sometimes all people need is for you to stick around,
Feeling loved and important always feels nice.
For my community I’ve listened,
I’ve been there for those around me,
And although that may not be what you’ve envisioned,
Oftentimes it can be the key.
When people are sad,
It’s always good to talk,
No matter how severe or bad,
They need some kind of rock.
Someone to care,
And someone to hear,
No matter what the affair,
Whether small or severe.
That’s what I do for my community,
I’m there,
Every person comes along in unity,
Today, that true friendship can be rare.